Consensus world view of TOP 5/6 UK University Rankings (Prestige/Research)

[Anonymous]

This +1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England and Scotland both have prestigious and less prestigious universities.

It's very common for English students to apply to Edinburgh and St. Andrews. It's less common for Scots to apply to universities south of their border, because they are more provincially minded generally and often "anti-English".

No. It is because uni costs in Scotland for Scots is a LOT CHEAPER than English unis……this is the ONLY reason.

Yes. This is the main reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is NOT zero. My son started in year 2 at Edinburgh in Math. We are from Texas.
He went to an AP school, but he registered for the A levels through Cambridge International and scored A*A*A*. (Maths, Further Math and Physics).

It is possible. But you have to be good and excel in your subject. DS was a little bit of a math prodigy. He studied for just 4 months independently and aced the A levels.

Congrats. That is an amazing deal. 3 years and much cheaper than us privates. What year is he in now? How does he like it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is NOT zero. My son started in year 2 at Edinburgh in Math. We are from Texas.
He went to an AP school, but he registered for the A levels through Cambridge International and scored A*A*A*. (Maths, Further Math and Physics).

It is possible. But you have to be good and excel in your subject. DS was a little bit of a math prodigy. He studied for just 4 months independently and aced the A levels.

Congrats. That is an amazing deal. 3 years and much cheaper than us privates. What year is he in now? How does he like it?

You simply cannot write a lovely, enthusiastic post like this on an otherwise negative, vitriolic thread. You killed it dead! All the grumbly fighters didn't know how to respond and so they just crawled back under their rocks / went elsewhere for Fight Club.

[Anonymous]

Any particular agency you’d recommend for ucas personal statement review?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any particular agency you’d recommend for ucas personal statement review?

Honestly, I’m not sure you need to pay too much money for a review. See what is also available online. I thought my DS’s statement was fairly average but he got 4 conditional offers from Russell Group universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any particular agency you’d recommend for ucas personal statement review?

Yes, speak to William at Oxford Tutors. He has recent and current Oxford students who work as tutors to potential applicants. They guide you through the PS writing process, can help with exam practice and interview practice. You don't have to sign up for all of it - just the things you need. And they don't charge US prices at all, so it's not expensive.

https://oxfordtutors.com/

They worked with my son on his PS. Its absolutely not a case of them writing it for you. They point out what strengths are there and what is missing, they usually advise against throwing in every single EC experience and focusing instead on the ones that are directly relating to the major of choice. And they help you understand what it means to write with insight and analysis rather than just stating the facts.

My DS got into all 5 of the places he applied to. Some responses were only a couple of weeks after submitting the application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any particular agency you’d recommend for ucas personal statement review?

There is a guy in Dallas that is also very very good. His name is Kevin Newton with AnEducationAbroad. My son was accepted to all 5 UK schools he applied to working with Kevin.

[Anonymous]

Oxford released some data points for this incoming undergraduate class. The most difficult course to get admissions to in 2025 was Economics and Management with 19.1 applicants per place. It switched places with Computer Science over the last year.


https://cherwell.org/2025/06/22/oxford-admissions-report-subject-college-disparities/

[Anonymous]

Cambridge
Oxford
St Andrews
LSE
Imperial
UCL

[Anonymous]

I love it that UK people really take satisfaction ratings seriously.

https://thetab.com/2025/07/28/students-at-these-23-uk-unis-get-better-teaching-than-at-russell-group-unis-in-2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cambridge
Oxford
St Andrews
LSE
Imperial
UCL

Drop St Andrews and you have the consensus view of the 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cambridge
Oxford
St Andrews
LSE
Imperial
UCL

Drop St Andrews and you have the consensus view of the 5.

Have you seen the UK league tables?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cambridge
Oxford
St Andrews
LSE
Imperial
UCL

Drop St Andrews and you have the consensus view of the 5.

Have you seen the UK league tables?

Did you read the original post on this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cambridge
Oxford
St Andrews
LSE
Imperial
UCL

Drop St Andrews and you have the consensus view of the 5.

Have you seen the UK league tables?

Did you read the original post on this thread?

I’m from Germany and St Andrews has good prestige here. Not sure how it is elsewhere.